While the intent of most religions is certainly not to create conflicts, the superiority that powerful individuals have felt in the past and an inherent nature for being offended by differing views has allowed for religion to be cited as a driving factor in many wars. And while the exact percentage is still debated, the fact remains that even to this day people will attempt to bash other belief systems even it has no contextual relevance. It shouldn't matter what one's religion is when making laws, advising on international affairs, or anything else that affects people of differing religions because one should possess the ability to be accepting of differing beliefs.
In terms of the belief in an afterlife, that is something that is determined by the religion one follows. I don't understand why, but for some reason many people do not realize that telling people of differing beliefs that they are "condemned to hell" carries not significance because they simply do not care what a different religion thinks of them.
(p1) Helping others is different from trying to impose religious beliefs or ways of life on an entirely different culture that has not expressed the desire to be taught (and I am referencing history such as US missionaries in the Congo moreso than the present). If they have openly requested such services, then that is another story, but even then it is important to be conscious of the traditions and customs of the people being taught. If the people are reluctant to be converted, then a missionary will have little to no success in spreading their beliefs. Just imagine, if one of the 4200 religions in the world tried to spread their beliefs to you, would you even begin to consider converting to them?
The choice of following a particular religion or not is certainly a significant one in one's life, as it will govern how one will behave throughout one's entire life. Inquiring about other religions is not a topic that I have touched on yet (and am therefore confused as to why this particular question was asked), but this is certainly a very important action that people can take. Even if one is already solidified in one's decision of which religion to follow, learning about other religions can help one to understand the world as a whole a why other cultures behave the way they do.
deletedover 9 years
The counter point is "What/who created the universe?" God is infinite, just like the universe. That whole argument can be countered with asking the same questions.
Actually, dissertation and thesis are interchangeable. In the UK, a thesis is for a PhD, and the same is true in New Zealand. A dissertation here is for an Honours degree though.
3. If you were getting a PhD it would be a dissertation.
deletedover 9 years
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Last thing I'm going to put I'm done with this thread.
He's not twisting your words, that's just how messed up they seem to the rest of us lmfao. And he seems to have the backs of everyone in the first world modern countries, what about the starving people in Africa? What did they do to incur God's wrath? Is God just racist?
deletedover 9 years
If this poll was held in any other community that didn't have a majority of American people answering it, there would definitely not be as many people answering "Yes", and as few people answering "No".
@Croned That is why God sent missionaries and people like us to spread the Word so that people who are unaware of Christianity can reach it through our love for them. Missionaries not only go to risky areas to spread the Word of God, but to help others as well. Also, how do we only ask ourselves without having the necessary knowledge to begin with if we don't ask about anyone else's mindset. Religion is not here to create conflicts, instead it is here to make people realize the significance of the afterlife and where we will be going. It's a scary conflict and religion eases that thought. I see where you were going with this, but I don't think keeping our knowledge to ourselves would help anyone or even myself
@Pessimist Well, we are all God's children, so He uses us to finish His work (without any harm being done on the person he's working through). I believe that He uses dedicated people who are willing to give up their lives for the greater good. For example, missionaries or just simply people who want to do good(: Of course God allows us to have free will. So, it's really based on the person he's working through.. whether or not that person is up for the challenge and change. God doesn't work through you every time you do something good though. So please don't interpret it as that. And like I said before, where did science and all this beautiful creation on this earth originate from? There has to be a main source to create all of this. He created physical properties so that we may survive. He didn't have to make it because it wasn't for Him. It's for us and us only.
@Markus Religion is created to ease people in terms of the afterlife, and guess what.. it still stands today because people believe it's true, including myself. Even historians confirm that Jesus existed, but no one really knew if He was the true Messiah. Before Jesus went back to Heaven, He told His followers to spread the Word so that when He comes back to earth, we may all recognize and acknowledge Him. Every religion has its own background and story, so you cannot generalize it.
I personally feel that there is an excessive amount of people who unfortunately waste their time trying to impose their religion or lack thereof on other people. It is very clear that a large percentage of the population, at least here in the United States, lives entirely in their own microcosm and has no idea what life is like for the rest of the world or the true numbers of religious diversity.
According to various sources(1,2), only 31.5% of the world is Christian, meaning that less than only one third of the world's population will ever go the heaven described by Christianity. Further, when you add on the other monotheistic religions of the world, you find that only about 50% of the globe even believes in the concept of a single god, which is about 3.65 billion people on both sides.
No matter what you believe, it can oftentimes be difficult to comprehend how many people there are in the world and how much life varies. It is for this reason I feel that one's belief system is something to be cherished in one's own thoughts, and with friends, family, and others who share those beliefs. They should not affect the development of laws or the ways one views types of people. They should not clash with beliefs held by other people and drive conflicts. As humans it is our responsibility to create agreeable conditions and rules for the interactions of humanity.
So, does God exist? The only person you need to ask is yourself.
@projectmatt Don't worry.. God has your back at all times man(: even when you don't feel like you're a Christian! @Satan Honestly, I don't even know what I'm supposed to say to you anymore. This is supposed to be a discussion, not an argument. You're twisting my words, and I don't think you're trying to understand religion, rather bashing it.
deletedover 9 years
Religion was created by people as a means to control people. The concept of heaven or afterlife were created to quell the fears of death. I am content to live my life without abiding by some bs restrictions placed upon me being a religion that was created to restrict me. No thank you.
obv she's not a muslim extremist,, she means that it's painful as in there will be those who oppose Christianity, false prophets, and basically those who persecute us for what we believe in. and when we reunite w/ Christ- basically when we die naturally or however we do- it'll be joyful in Heaven. k im out !!!!!!! pE A C E !
deletedover 9 years
Ok, but working through other people–what, does he control their minds? Do we not all have free will? If god uses people to punish or reward others, then they are not doing it of their own will, otherwise it is not god who is enacting that punishment or reward. He cannot work through disease, since diseases arise naturally, when a series of physical circumstances come together. Diseases will happen, but due to the properties and conditions of our natural universe, not by the will of a god. When I help someone else, it is not god working through me, it is my own decision. As I see it, a god would have no window for interaction with the universe, as it is already governed by physical laws that don't bend.
deletedover 9 years
Will you get another epicmafia-boyfriend when that happens?
deletedover 9 years
is there really a hell for him to go to if there's no God?
